Over 50,000 marooned in Myanmar as four rivers flooded due to heavy rain

NewsBharati    07-Aug-2018
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Flood situation in Mon State of Myanmar
 
Yangon, Aug 7: Four major Myanmar rivers are swolen due to heavy rains causing massive flooding in their catchment areas leaving over 50,000 people marooned in three states of Mon, Karen and Bago, agency reports said.

The water level in the Bilin, Salween, Sittaung and Bago rivers is above the danger levels due to heavy rains. Residents in the three most-affected states are asking for immediate aid. Water has also reached monasteries located on higher grounds.

More than 10,000 people have been displaced near the cities of Bilin and Thaton in Mon State with at least 18 villages completely inundated.

About 8,000 residents found shelter in 32 relief camps near Bilin; another 2,000 are sheltered in the Kyaikto area.

Moving aid into the area is very difficult and dangerous. On 27 July, three soldiers involved in rescue operations were swept away by the water and are still missing.

 

Even Buddhist monasteries have not been spared. "Although the temples are all on high ground, the water has reached them,” said Kwun Ngan, a Buddhist monk.

In Karen State, the Hlaing Bwe and Salween rivers are also flooding. For residents, this is the worst natural disaster of the last 20 years.

“I've been living here for over 40 years,” said U Own Myint. “I've never seen anything like it.” Here too, camps have been set up for residents, about 13,000 people.

Bago is the most affected area, with over 30,000 people displaced.

“The Shwegyin River continues to rise,” said Dr Myint Oo. “I have been in Shwegyin for 18 years and never experienced this kind of disaster. Only one neighbourhood in eight has been spared,” he added.

Myanmar Rainfall Rivers Flooding Marooned relief camps